Thoughts From Nashville

I’ve been anxiously awaiting my trip to Nashville for what seems like forever. Since my first visit there two years ago my life has changed dramatically. No longer a recent college graduate, I’m not unsure of my future and my answer to the once dreaded question, ‘What do you do?’ Finally, I can say I’m a music journalist and not hesitate while thinking, ‘Well, I work here during the day but I write here and intern here.’

Sitting at Tin Roof for lunch (and sweet tea!) in Nashville by myself after David Nail’s fan club performance, I’m reminded that he was the first country artist I interviewed just two years ago. A lot has happened since then.

Overhead, Third Eye Blind is blasting from the speakers. Next, I hear Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift’s “Two Is Better Than One” before the DJ segues into Train’s latest single. It’s here that it hits me. I have interviewed every single artist just played on the radio. Hard to believe exactly two years ago I was here for fun, covering the CMA Music Festival writing for free and now I’m getting paid to do what I love.

Sure, there have been some dark days where nothing seems to make any sense. But if the past few years have taught me anything it’s that if you stick with what you really love and follow your heart anything can happen. Carrie Underwood seems to think the same way. During Billboard’s Country Music Summit she talked of her experience acting in the film Soul Surfer and whether or not acting would remain in her future. What she said struck a chord.

“I just take my opportunities as they come. I feel like if you try to force anything, then it’s not going to be good. I see what’s going to happen and I say my prayers at night. ‘Just lead me in the right direction! And give me good things that I should be doing and give me opportunities to branch out and have fun with things and just do good things in the universe.’”

Carrie Underwood says her prayers every night. I really should pray more often and make it a habit to go to church too. This has been something I’ve been struggling to grasp all year since moving to Brooklyn. Farrah goes to shul every Saturday. Maybe I should start doing the same on Sundays.

Back in New York this sentiment was shared by another country artist. While at Justin Moore’s album release show at B.B. King’s Tuesday, Moore stressed the importance of liking what you do after he expressed how writing the title track of his album had helped make him a better Christian.

“I’m a prime example that you’re not supposed to hate your job. You should wake up every morning and love what you do,” he told a room of fans.

The Author : Annie Reuter
Annie Reuter, is a freelance writer and music blogger who covers concerts and music festivals around the country. In constant pursuit of the next show to attend and band to interview, Annie keeps up her own music blog, You Sing, I Write, where she uncovers what it's really like to spend the day with a rock star.
See more articles by Annie Reuter (43).

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James Leo Oliver

One more thing…

I feel people tend to skip church because they feel they are going to miss something important happening in the world. Well, that is true, except what they will miss is the most important event ever to occur in world history, the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ and the opportunity to partake in His body, blood, soul and divinity. This is a fundamental activity from which all other opportunities in one’s life stem from. That one hour will enhance the other 167 hours we get each week in ways we can’t begin to fathom. As we keep holy the Lord’s day, he blesses all of our other days immensely.

James Leo Oliver

If you are back in Nashville, there are wonderful Catholic Churches to attend:

I love music and God touches me with just the right song quite often while I am in church. Three events were quite miraculous. But that’s another blurb.

Shawn Murphy

Great article. I wish it was that easy. I love playing guitar with my band and creating promotional posters and things for musicians and artists (http://shawnmurphy.net) but I struggle to see how I can actually make this a business that pays my mortgage and car payments not to mention feed my family.

I pray for guidance to help point me in the right direction but keep getting frustrated with my day job. it pays the bills but has been overwhelmingly stressful and consumes so much of my time I’m rarely motivated when I get home to play guitar or relax. I’m very tightly wound and want out.

Your story is very promising and gives me hope that God will point me in the right direction.